Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-09-07
UNITED BY FIRE.
How CoIoneI Desmond Won His Wife.

How CoIonoI Desmond Won His Wife.
Mrs. Raynor was the envy of the
country. Her dresses were copied by
ber less fortunate neIghbors, and her
country place was a dream of pastoral
beauty. About her past little was
known, except that she had been an old
mans darling who had died and left
her in possession of a great estate.
She was cold as she was beautiful,
and it was said by ner admirers that
she had no more heart than a stone. a
guest at the Hall during the summer
was Colonel Desmond, an old friend of
her fathers. He was not a young
man, but lie had a fine face, and she
! liked him because he was accomplished
and congenial.
Colonel Desmond was very attentive
/ to the young widow, but while she was
: touched at the wiStful loneliness in his
/ eyes and his lameness, 1t was hard for
her TO think of reslgning her widow
/ hood.
There lay the contradiction of this
/ pretty woman'5 character. She liked
| him well enough and would have been
/ glad of his gentle attentions all her life,
but to marry him was quite another
| thing.
They were both spending a week with
! party of guests at Merton Hall, a
neighbOring estate. Pretty little Mrs.
Merton was something of a match
maker, and she thought she would lend
her aid in bringing them together.
The visit had been a very enjoyable
one for Colonel Desmond, and it was
with regret that he looked forward to
his departure AS for Edith Raynor,
she had made up her mind that it was
best TO let him go back TO India alone;
that she would not say a word to keep
him. Yet it troubled her that he must
go.
On the day before Desmond was to
leave Merton Hall he came upon Mrs.
RaynOr reading In the library. She
started up as if to leave the room, her
face flushed, her eyes bright.
Edith" he said, stopping before
her with pleading eyes, IL am going
away tomorrow. Give me some en-
couragement before 1 go! Tell me
whether L am TO hope or despaIrI Am
l to 90 back to India OF notp Or Will
you go with me-will you marry me?
Edith, L have waited for you so many
yearsl You have been the one motive
of my life, and but for the thought of
one day seeing you again l should have
made myself food for tigers long ago. ~
THAT would have been very fool
ish, she said, speaking quietly, at ran
dom. THE world is charming place,
if only We keep our affections Well In
hand"
DO not send me away with re-
fusal. Let the rest of my life be spent
by your side. | have not led happy
life, as you know. and l long for love
and the ties that other men own.''
She took the knot If roses from her
Shoulder and held it out to him.
Give me till tomorrow to think It
over. l shall not leave till noon; and
now good night. l am very tired.''
As she passed him he bent forward
to take her in his arms, but she avoided
him 10y swift turn and looked back al
HIM from the doorway with a smile
that made his heart beat fiercely.
There was no sleep for him that
night. The morrow was to decide his
destiny. He sat up long over his
papers, laying his plans for exchange
Into the home service fl Hark,
What noise was that? People running
through the house! Cries, frightened
questIonings. the slamming of doors,
the tramping of feet in the distance,
then hOaTSe shouts without. He heard
the word ''lIe'' caught up from ole
echo to another. He rushed out into
the corridor and down to the ground
floor, through the main building of the
hall. Meeting frightened servant lie
inquired where the fire was.
''On the other wing. It's Mrs. Ray.
nor's rooms are on firel''
Quick as thought he dashed out OF
the house to where the flames were
bursting from an upper window Hor.
ritied groups stood below. The men
servants and male guests were playing
the water on to the building III vain.
Colonel Desmoud," shrieked Mrs.
Merton, coming toward him, with a
J ghastly face, save her! Edith RaynOI
is up there among the tiamesl''
a ladder had been placed against the
| burning building, and Colonel Desmond
= sprang up the rounds with lightness
that was miraculous, in view of his
lameness. Those below saw his tall
figure outlined darkly against the
: flames, saw 1t disappear in the burning
room, reappear with a white shape il
: his arms.
Edith" groaned Mrs. Merton.
Then there was a fearful burst ot
smoke from within, and when it cleared
away the two figures We're gone. That
; was the turning-point of the fire, VIII ich
: was soon under control and extinguisheC
in the course of an hour.
In the morning Guy Desmond wa!
:. found clasping in his arms the woman
: he loved. They had died of suffocation
And to-day they sleep in the sam,
grave. Young Mrs. Merton would have
so.
Parted in life, in dying they arr
side by side," said good Laura Merton
months afterward. An. well, perhaps
Il they are happier than If they had lived
and married and quarreled, like othe
:. people. There are things in life har
: der to bear than deathl"